Holiday

At Pastoral, our wine portfolio focuses on small-batch artisan wines that pair perfectly with food and there's an overwhelming number of Turkey-friendly wines out there. To make things a little easier for you, we have a few recommendations, not only for your turkey dinner, but for any holiday occasion where hearty, rustic and comforting food is abundant.

BUBBLY

Sparkling wines are perfect for the holidays. With a delightful POP! and effervescent bubbles, they are by their nature celebratory and pair so well with everything on the table, cutting through rich fats and sauces.

Furlan Prosecco – Just a touch of residual sugar but with enough to acidity to keep things fresh. $18.99

Champagne Camille Saves – Every day should call for Champagne but sometimes people need a special occasion. Not just for the connoisseurs; this is the perfect way for everyone to celebrate family and friends coming together. $59.99

WHITE WINE

Riesling is a great option because it is such a diverse varietal. It can be sweet, dry, highly acidic or fruity.

Keller Riesling Trocken (Trocken is German for dry) – This bone dry Riesling is ideal because it can liven up an over-cooked turkey but also has the acidity to cut through all the gravy. $22.99

Guiberteau Saumur Blanc - Chenin is so versatile, with just enough weight and a touch of honeysuckle. $24.99

RED WINE

Depending on the palate of your guests, and the complexity of flavors in the dishes you're serving, you can go heavier or lighter when it comes to red wines and Thanksgiving.

Heavier wines are great for standing up to bold, deep flavors; it's important to find wines that complement and don't overpower lighter dishes.

Field Recordings ‘Fiction’ - This should be on every table whether it comes in a bottle or a CAN - juicy, spicy and robust but it has just enough acidity to keep it from being flabby. The perfectly-portioned cans are a great mix of classy, yet casual for those hosting a low-key 'Friends-giving'. The higher ABV is helpful because sometimes its your turn to be the drunk relative at Thanksgiving. $19.99

On the lighter side the safe bet is Pinot Noir. A lighter-bodied wine allows light, delicate herbs to shine and acts as a beautiful backdrop for your meal.

Brooks 'Runaway Red' Pinot Noir – A great introduction to Oregon Pinot Noir that maintains cherry fruit but also a touch of savory, earthy mushroom. $19.99

Look for our turkey tags in stores to indicate which wines make for perfect pairings.

Don't forget our case discounts! We offer 5% off of six or more bottles and 10% off of 12 or more, even mixed selections.

Make a List and Check it Twice - Our NEW Gourmet Gift Catalog Has Arrived!

From the cheese and wine novice, to the discriminating gourmand, our new gift guide features collections that serve as a guided exploration of some of our favorite products.

We pride ourselves on taking the time to not only sell artisan products we deeply care about, but to also give our customers the opportunity to expand their knowledge of artisan foods with each visit to our stores. These educational gift collections bring that signature Pastoral experience right to your door so you can taste your way to cheese expertise!

BACK TO BASICS

Treat your favorite foodies to a little beginner's luck with a delicious introduction into the world of cheese and wine pairings. Cheese 101 makes the world of artisan cheese is a lot less intimidating with a collection of varied styles and flavors to introduce you to the basics of cheese. Pair it with Wine 101 which features classic varietals from familiar regions that offer a straightforward introduction into the vast world of wine.

CLASSIC FAVORITES

Our hometown heroes, Best of the Midwest and Sweet Home Chicago are back this year, with a refresh of course! Loaded with our favorite local products, they make a wonderful edible postcard.

We are also very excited to introduce a new Windy City-inspired collection - Chicago Farmer's Market - which features a few of the delightful products you'll find at our seasonal outdoor markets all over the city. This collection of fluffy, fresh chèvre from Champaign, crisp housemade toastettes, spicy, spreadable Calabrian salami and sweet heirloom tomato relish is just a small taste of what our city has to offer from our talented locals.

Gifts for every occasion are also featured this year, like the Comfort Food collection which includes comforting array of sweet, savory and familiar treats when you can't deliver a hug in person. Slightly salted French butter, old school Wisconsin brick cheese spread and sweet ginger pickles provide a salty balance to the sweet, nutty Gruyère, fluffy, double cream Manchester and flaky oat cakes. Delightfully crisp chocolate-covered pretzels provide the perfect sweet and crunchy finish to this heartwarming spread.

If you find yourself looking for a bounty of handcrafted and indulgent treats to express thanks when a card and flowers won't do, the Gourmet Gratitude features a variety of distinct salami, cheese and pantry items to show your thanks. Rich and complex Caveman Blue pairs beautifully with raw honey from Spain and uniquely spiced chocolate ‘salami’ from Olympia Provisions. Pickled mustard seeds add sharp acidity and unique texture to a savory, spicy Alpine and earthy goat salami. Locally crafted preserves in sophisticated flavors are a sweet, yet subtle accompaniment to smooth aged goat cheese from LaClare Farms.

GRAND GESTURES

Abundant gifts like the globally-inspired World Traveler feature world class products that are the best in their category. The Connoisseur goes beyond the basics of artisan cheese to explore the world of elegant, esoteric cheeses, rich in history and complex flavors.

On the 8th day of Cheesemas, my cheesemonger gave to me - a french blue, piquant and dreamy.

A true French classic, made with the same blue mold used to make the famous French Roquefort, Bleu d’Auvergne is a more buttery, mildly spicy cow’s milk blue. The soft, creamy paste is subtly salty with sweet, grassy notes.

Stop by any one of our three retail locations in the city of Chicago, and you could be the random winner of 1/3 lb. of this amazing cheese!

On the 7th Day of Cheesemas, my cheesemonger gave to me - Pimento cheese so sharp and garlicky!

Our housemade pimento cheese is the crowd-pleasing, cheese spread dreams are made of - featuring Widmer's Cheese Cellars 1 Year Cheddar and Grafton Aged Cheddar from Vermont. The two cheeses are blended with mayo, peppers, garlic and spices for a delightful snack that can't be beat. Top crackers with the flavorful Southern spread, or build the perfect sandwich with salami, tomatoes, pickles and Pimento, of course!

Stop by any one of our three retail locations in the city of Chicago, and you could be the random winner of 1/3 lb. of this amazing cheese!

On the 5th Day of Cheesemas my cheesemonger gave to me - a firm, basque style cheese!

Similar to Pastoral crowd-pleasing favorite, Ossau-Iraty, Secret de Compostelle is a firm Basque-style tomme made in the Pyrenees region of France from Spanish sheep milk. The sheep milk imparts a rich, toothsome paste with notes of hazelnut, grass and sweet cream. Its mild and pleasant texture makes an ideal addition to a holiday cheese plate, as it pairs well with condiments and accoutrements both sweet and savory. Try it with tart berry jams and spreads, or melted into quiche or tart!

Stop by any one of our three retail locations in the city of Chicago, and you could be the random winner of 1/3 lb. of this amazing cheese!

On the 4th Day of Cheesemas my cheesemonger gave to me a fruity cheddar known as Prairie Breeze!

Milton Creamery was established in 2006 as a partnership between Amish dairy farmers and the Musser Family. The Musser Family in Milton, IA uses milk from local Amish dairy farmers to create some of the most consistently delicious and award-winning cheeses today.

The Musser family has trusted the cheesemaking to their son Galen, who has been in charge of cheese production since he was 16 years old - winning his first award at 17! The Pastoral favorite, Prairie Breeze not only secured Galen his first U.S. Cheese Championship award, but continues to be an award winning cheese to this day, with its crystalline texture and flaky shards of flavor.

Stop by any one of our three retail locations in the city of Chicago, and you could be the random winner of 1/3 lb. of this amazing cheese!

On the 3rd Day of Cheesemas my cheesemonger gave to me - a ripened log of classic French cheese!

“Buche” means log in French and is the root word for the name of this large, log-shaped French goat cheese. Each slice provides a window into the ripening process for this classic, soft-ripened cheese. In the center, the crumbly, chalky interior tastes bright and lemony. As the log ages, the gooey interfacing below the bloomy, edible rind, provides a creamy contrast. Lovely with fresh fruit, spread on crackers or a baguette, or simply on its own, Pair it with sparkling pinks like FRV100 from Jean Paul Brun for a holiday pairing that can't be beat.

Stop by any one of our three retail locations in the city of Chicago, and you could be the random winner of 1/3 lb. of this amazing cheese!

On the 2nd Day of Cheesemas my Cheesemonger gave to me - a triple creme from the land of brie!

Created by Henri Androuet in the 1930S, Brillat-Savarin is a rich and silky triple crème cheese named after 19th century gastronome and epicure, Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin.

Brillat-Savarin is a classic triple crème produced in the Ile de France region by 3 generations of cheesemakers at Fromagerie Rouzaire. Putting the quality and heritage of their product first, the milk is sourced daily from 25 farmers of the Seine and Marne region. After aging the cheese for 4-6 weeks it develops a fluffy, bloomy rind along with a complex taste of butter, salt and cream with a hint of mushroom and hazelnuts.

Triple crème cheeses are known for their lusciousness, due to their minimum 75% fat content. To achieve this, the cheese is made with heavy cream added to the whole milk during production. Traditionally seen as a dessert cheese, Brillat –Savarin pairs well with pale ales and light fruity white wines like Riesling or Champagne, making it perfect for holiday celebrations.

Stop by any one of our three retail locations in the city of Chicago, and you could be the random winner of 1/3 lb. of this amazing cheese!

This time of year, there's nothing we love more than celebrating our home, our family and friends and our wonderful cheese-loving customers! If you dream of melting Raclette over your Yule Log, you're going to LOVE Cheesemas. Cheesemas is a magical (and delectable) celebration of the bounty of beautiful artisan cheeses we've been inspired by this year, and it brings us great joy to share that bounty with you.

For the next 12 days leading up to December 25th, we will be presenting you with our twelve favorite cheeses for the holidays, as well as gifting them in stores. Each day from December 13th - December 24th, we will give away one piece of cheese to a randomly selected, lucky customer in each of our retail stores.

On the 1st Day of Cheesemas my cheesemonger gave to me - Goat Cheese Feta from Missouri!

Baetje Farms is situated in the oldest town in Missouri in Sainte Genevieve County, amidst a land rich in agricultural diversity.

Steve Baetje prides himself on the great care he takes of his goat herd. The animals are free to do whatever they’d like over acres of land including drinking from an endless supply of natural spring water. During kidding season, all the fresh milk produced is used for fresh goat cheeses and well as beautifully aged ones.

Baetje Farms Marinated Feta is made from their aged goat cheese feta—salty and firm. Then it’s cut into cubes and marinated in extra virgin olive oil imported from Greece.
Crumbled and tossed into salad or pasta, marinated feta adds an salty kick. Better yet, try it on it’s own on some crusty bread with a few olives and charcuterie to savor the lusciousness of the olive oil.

Stop by any one of our three retail locations in the city of Chicago, and you could be the random winner of 1/3 lb. of this amazing cheese!

In 2004, Ken Miller and Greg O'Neill opened Pastoral in Lake View with a mission to provide Chicago with the highest level of service and education for our customers, striving to make shopping for and consuming artisan goods enlightening, approachable, fun and delicious. We’re eager to continue finding even more ways to inspire and be inspired by our cherished community of customers, artisans and food lovers. To that end, you’ll find that our 2014-2015 Gift Catalog pays homage to the community we hold so dear - featuring medleys and collections that reflect our iconic neighborhoods and hometown roots.

Each Collectionand Medleyis a careful reflection, an edible postcard from the city we call home. The Lake View Collectionfeatures Pastoral customer favorites like crowd-pleasing Ossau-Iraty, grassy and sharp Cabot Clothbound Cheddar and Neal’s Yard Dairy’s famous Stichelton. Andante Dairy’s dense and luscious Picolo is perfect topped with Small Batch Preserves from Quince & Apple. Team it all up with Potter’s Crisps and single varietal honey, and it’s the perfect Pastoral experience.

You'll find old favorites like the Gourmet Gratitude and Best of the Midwestin this year's catalog too, with generous upgrades and remarkable artisan products that have truly inspired us.

The eclectic mix of artisan pantry items and bold cheeses found in the Wicker Park and Fulton Market Collections is ideal for the keen food lover in your life. The Wicker Park Collectionis named after Chicago’s hip and artsy neighborhood, and features artisan treats that are sure to please even the most discriminating palate. Brabander Gouda from the Netherlands can only be described as magical, while Rogue River’s Smokey Blue proves that the only way blue cheese could be better is to smoke it. Chocopods in crazy flavors, sweet and savory sea salt caramels and Croatian fig and cocoa spread sweeten the deal. You won’t find a better brew that Bow Truss’ Cold Brew Coffee to wash it all down.

Located just west of downtown Chicago, Fulton Market is home to artisan producers, groundbreaking restaurants and a food community committed to exploring new tastes and concepts with a bit of old school tradition thrown in. Spicy Hop Pickles from Brooklyn Brine and bouncy, buttery St. Malachi pair excellently with Barolo from West Loop Salumi made in the Fulton Market neighborhood. For a hit of subtly sweet spice, top it with Chili Jam from American Spoon. The smooth, bourbon infused O’Banon goes down easy with Dick Taylor’s Single Origin Bars for a sweet finish.

Perfect pairings of delicious items that just go better together are also available as Duos; they're perfect as hostess gifts, party favors and stocking stuffers. We've paired our favorite cheeses, spreads, utensils and condiments for miniature gifts to fit any taste.

Our Monthly Clubsoffer the Pastoral experience delivered right to your door each month. Centered around the artisan products that we carry in our stores, as well as exclusive, small-batch items, each cheese, charcuterie and pairing membership includes an educational and insightful narrative to share the unique story, style and origin of each product, how to best enjoy them and what inspired us to share them with our members. All of our clubs give you a chance to expand your palate as well as your knowledge of cheese, charcuterie and wine while exploring the seasonality and pairing possibilities of our favorite products.